Latest news with #Hopley
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
30% electricity tariff increase is a reality, says Erasa
New tariff structure threatens resellers' business model. Resellers play an important role in the electricity value chain, especially in sectional title schemes – and households using less electricity are now being hit the hardest. Picture: Supplied The Electricity Resellers Association of South Africa (Erasa) will this week decide on a strategy to address members' concerns about a looming 30% increase in electricity tariffs for most of the end-users they serve in Eskom distribution areas, according to chair Johan Hopley. These are households that rent or own sectional title units and use on average 400kWh of electricity per month. They are generally already financially struggling, and such a sharp increase in electricity costs will drastically increase the risk of non-payment. A change in Eskom's tariff structure poses a further threat to the resellers' business model as it limits their ability to recover a loss on higher winter tariffs during the summer months, says Hopley. Electricity resellers play an important role in the electricity value chain, especially in sectional title schemes. In most cases, Eskom or the municipal distributor brings the electricity to one bulk connection point at the gate, so to speak, of the premises. The internal distribution is then done by the developer and managed in the long run with the assistance of a reseller. The reseller buys from Eskom or the municipality at a bulk rate but is legally not allowed to sell it to end users at more than the approved retail tariffs of the local electricity distributor, be it Eskom or the municipality. ALSO READ: Johannesburg's 2025/26 tariff increases — Here is how much more you could pay Impact already being felt According to Hopley, the first Eskom bills based on the new tariffs that were implemented on 1 April show an increase of 30% in buildings' bulk purchase cost. A building in the East of Pretoria, for example, paid R357 921 (excluding Vat) to Eskom in May last year. Based on the same number of units in May this year, the bill runs to R464 081 – a 30% increase. Resellers must pass this on to end users who are expecting an increase of no more than the 12.74% that energy regulator Nersa approved for Eskom from 1 April. That widely quoted number is, however, an average and does not reflect the much higher increases for those using less electricity every month. ALSO READ: Nersa approves 12.7% electricity tariff hike for Eskom A tenant or unit owner who used 400kWh in May last year and paid R1 177, will now have to pay R1 547 – an increase of 31%. This may be a huge shock to smaller households that are already struggling to make ends meet, says Hopley, and may result in lower payment rates – which poses a huge risk for resellers. If they use more electricity, the increase moderates. However, at 600kWh per month it is 28%, which is still pretty steep. Even if they try to use less electricity, the impact will be limited due to Eskom's structural changes as the fixed monthly charges have increased from R195 to R367 per household. The corresponding decrease in the price per kWh is small – from R2.95 to R2.45 (17%). ALSO READ: Electricity tariffs: Ramokgopa reveals how much Eskom customers pay for usage per month Seasonal hurdle for resellers Hopley says the added complication is that Eskom's bulk tariffs are seasonal. This means the reseller pays much more for electricity when winter tariffs apply – in June, July and August – than in the rest of the year. The retail tariffs they must charge end users are however the same throughout the year. Resellers, therefore, used to sell at a loss during the winter months but were able to make up for it during the nine summer months. With the new tariffs, the loss in winter will be much bigger and in summer, the reseller may only break even, which is not at all sustainable. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
Global News
24-05-2025
- Global News
Randall Hopley still a ‘high risk' for sex offences against kids: Parole Board documents
A notorious British Columbia child predator who was released and almost immediately re-arrested this week still poses a 'high risk for future sexual offending,' parole board documents reveal. Randall Hopley was granted statutory release from the Mission Institution on Thursday morning, and was supposed to live at a Vancouver halfway house. But police say he refused the directions of his parole officer and left the facility — leading to his arrest hours later. Global News obtained the Parole Board of Canada documents associated with his release, which show officials continued to hold serious concerns about his risk to public safety. 'Risk issues in your case include a deviant sexual attraction to young children, poor impulse control, poor emotions management, and attitudes that support the use of crime for gain. You lack insight into your criminal behaviour and are resistant to treatment efforts,' the documents state. Story continues below advertisement 'Psychological and psychiatric assessments focused on estimating your risk for recidivism have consistently found that you pose a high risk for future sexual offending, a moderate risk for general violence and a moderate to high risk for general re-offending.' 0:43 Sex offender Randall Hopley re-arrested hours after release The documents go on to specify he continue to live in a halfway house, given his 'high risk to re-offend in a sexual manner against a child.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Corrections Canada told Global News that Hopley's statutory release was mandated by law. Under the law, offenders who aren't serving an indeterminate or life sentence must be released when they've completed two-thirds of their sentence. The final third is served in the community under the supervision of a parole officer. Hopley's latest sentence, an 18-month term, was handed down after he went unlawfully at large. Story continues below advertisement He had been serving a long-term supervision order when he cut off an ankle monitor and disappeared from his Downtown Eastside halfway house in November 2023, sparking a nationwide manhunt. It was only called off when he turned himself in to police because he was cold. He has a long criminal history dating back to 1985, including sexual assault, assault and property crime. He is best known for kidnapping a three-year-old boy in Sparwood, B.C., in 2011, triggering an Amber Alert and Canada-wide search. Hopley returned the boy unharmed four days later and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to six years, serving his full term until October 2018, at which point he was released under the 10-year long-term supervision order.
The Province
23-05-2025
- The Province
High-risk sex offender arrested in Vancouver the same day he was released
Randall Hopley left his halfway house while on statutory release Randall Hopley was arrested by Vancouver police Thursday shortly after he obtained statutory release. Photo by VPD A high-risk sex offender, Randall Hopley, was arrested by Vancouver police on Thursday only a few hours after he was released from prison. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Hopley was freed Thursday morning from Mission Institution on statutory release, a federal law that automatically gives conditional freedom to most prisoners after serving two-thirds of their sentence. He was required to live at a halfway house in Vancouver, but refused to comply and left the halfway house, said the Vancouver Police Department. A Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest. Hopley had finished serving two-thirds of an 18-month jail sentence handed down last May after he pleaded guilty to breaching conditions of a long-term supervision order in 2022 and again in 2023. Hopley skipped out of his halfway house in the Downtown Eastside in November 2023 after cutting off his ankle monitor. He spent 10 days at large before turning himself in to police. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He also pleaded guilty to breaching the conditions of the supervision order by being in the presence of children under age 16 in November 2022 when he got too close to children while visiting a library. Hopley served a six-year prison term for the 2011 abduction of a three-year-old boy in southeastern B.C. He was released on a 10-year supervision order in 2018 and ordered to live in the halfway house. He was also convicted in 1985 for the sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to two years behind bars and three years probation. In an unrelated news conference, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said Hopley's breach and arrest was disturbing. He noted there have been recent incidents of stranger assaults in Vancouver allegedly committed by repeat offenders and called on the province to work towards a solution. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are incredibly proud of what we do at the VPD in reacting to these situations, but it's almost a waste of time if these individuals keep on getting released.' Premier David Eby said he was 'deeply disappointed' that the Correctional Service of Canada did not provide notification of Hopley's release, particularly in the neighbourhood where he was sent to live. He said at an unrelated news conference that public confidence in the justice system is 'being tested right now.' 'We need the federal government to step up and ensure that things like this can't happen. It just doesn't make any sense to anybody.' chchan@ With a file from the Canadian Press Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Local News Vancouver Canucks Local News
Vancouver Sun
23-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. sex offender re-arrested on same day he was freed from prison
VANCOUVER — Vancouver police have re-arrested high-risk sex offender Randall Hopley, on the same day that he was released from prison. Police say Hopley had been released from Mission Institution on Thursday morning and ordered to live at a Vancouver halfway house. But he is alleged to have refused the directions of his parole officer and left the halfway house. Police say Hopley was arrested after a Canada-wide warrant was issued, and he remains in custody. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Hopley obtained statutory release after being sentenced last May to 29 months in jail, minus credit for time served, having pleaded guilty to breaching conditions of a long-term supervision order on two occasions. He previously completed a six-year prison term for the 2011 abduction of a three-year-old boy in southeastern B.C. British Columbia Premier David Eby said he was 'deeply disappointed' that the Correctional Service of Canada did not provide notification of Hopley's release, particularly in the neighbourhood where he was sent to live. He said at an unrelated news conference in Yellowknife, where he was attending the western premiers conference, that public confidence in the justice system is 'being tested right now.' 'We need the federal government to step up and ensure that things like this can't happen. It just doesn't make any sense to anybody.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Sex offender Randall Hopley re-arrested in B.C., on same day he was freed from prison
VANCOUVER - Vancouver police have re-arrested high-risk sex offender Randall Hopley, on the same day that he was released from prison. Police say Hopley had been released from Mission Institution on Thursday morning and ordered to live at a Vancouver halfway house. But he is alleged to have refused the directions of his parole officer and left the halfway house. Police say Hopley was arrested after a Canada-wide warrant was issued, and he remains in custody. Hopley obtained statutory release after being sentenced last May to 29 months in jail, minus credit for time served, having pleaded guilty to breaching conditions of a long-term supervision order on two occasions. He previously completed a six-year prison term for the 2011 abduction of a three-year-old boy in southeastern B.C. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
